A huge force of Los Angeles police officers with riot gear rushed to clear a famous city of homeless shops, sparking angry clashes with hundreds of protesters that continued into the early hours of Thursday.
A crowd of police moved to the Echo Park Lake camp around 10pm on Wednesday and were rallied by more than 200 protesters who had gathered all day to oppose the planned sweep.
Protesters, a mix of homeless people and activists, refused to move as they sang, “Whose park? Our park! ”
As hundreds of police officers (many carrying sticks or projectile weapons) slowly advanced to sweep the area, it sparked violent clashes with some of those who refused to move, according to witnesses and police.
The LAPD twice declared it an illegal assembly and repeatedly announced orders to leave, claiming on Twitter that officers were “assaulted with rocks, bottles and smoke bombs.”
“No use of force has been reported at this time,” his own tactics insisted.
Tense clashes lasted for hours, and at 12:30 p.m., about 40 protesters were kept under surveillance by several hundred police officers, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“The Los Angeles Police Department continues to call for calm and cooperation while continuing to install fences to support Echo Park’s rehabilitation effort.” wrote the force in the early hours.
“Fencing is being set up and police will be there overnight.”
Officials allowed homeless people living there to spend the night, but said “they will not be allowed to come and go.” They all have to go out Thursday night, Chief Michel Moore told the LA Times.
Some of the homeless people who called the park insisted they would not leave, regardless of the consequences.
“I am not leaving. They will be arrested and I will spend time in prison, ”Antonia Ramírez, 60, told The Associated Press.
He complained that “no warning was given” for the closure of the park, saying, “It’s like a dictatorial, fascist regime.”
Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority executive director Heidi Marston also denied the tactics.
“If you close the park, it’s clear. It doesn’t mean we have to surprise people, ”he told the LA Times.
“It facilitates fear, chaos and breaks the trust we built. It seems that it didn’t have to happen that way. “
City Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, whose district includes the neighborhood north of downtown, said police they were asked to support “community security efforts” while installing a fence.
“Our homeless service providers will return tomorrow morning to continue their work with the park’s homeless residents to provide shelter and services to anyone who wants and needs assistance.” He wrote.
He supported the police action, saying the cleaning of the park not only conceded to the demands of the community on health and safety, but was also to improve the community of homeless campers.
“Define a sweep as moving someone inside to a clean, safe environment where they will be provided with healthy, free meals, receive medical care, and a path to well-being, and then you can be called whatever you want,” O’Farrell said. to Los Angeles. Time.
“Because that’s what we’re doing for everyone who’s been there for the last few weeks or months.”
With publishing cables